The day was cold but the clarity of the air was superb and the view stunning.

A perfect day to clear our minds of everything and just enjoy the fresh air and good weather.

A relaxed break for lunch in the sunshine before heading down into the Easedale Valley

There was time for another quick stop, protecting our sandwiches from sheep, before crossing Far Easdale Gill at Stythwaite Steps

The sky was a brilliant blue against the fellside.

At the end of the day I gave the group the option of a quick run up to Easedale tarn or return to Glenthorne for tea and cake. Those that took the tarn option were not unhappy.

The tarn was stunningly still, reflecting the surrounding mountains like a mirror. We sat for a while to take in the beautiful setting.

It was a perfect end to our first day.

Today was another crisp frosty morning but the sunshine was bright.

We watched as Marian led her group off for another gruelling day pouring over compass bearings.

Our destination today was Fairfield and we headed up behind Dove Cottage towards Alcock Tarn.

The visibility was good again today in the sunshine, with some fabulous views looking back over Grasmere.

We made good time and stopped for a break on reaching Alcock Tarn. The walk up from Grasmere combined with the winter sun meant some women were in tee shirts!

My group claimed they were determined to walk high enough to find snow today.........

We were soon on the ridge towards Fairfield. The views were hazy in the winter sun and looking back we could see Grasmere and Alcock Tarn shimmering.

High on the ridge we had our first glimpse of snow

There were fabulous views across the central fells, back towards Windermere and north towards the Scottish coast.

When we found a decent patch of snow there was some impromptu sledging and a snowball fight!

There was a short scramble as started our journey home and we continued at a leisurely pace and ended up in Ambleside in time for the bus home.

Today we set out early to get the 8.40 bus to Thirlmere. Our intended summit today was Helvellyn. The forecast was still good , and its not often you get a good day on the top of Helvellyn at this time of year.

We quickly gained height from our starting point at Wythburn, the flanks of the Helvellyn group keeping us in a cool shadow as we climbed.

Soon Skiddaw was visible in the distance.

Our planned route down would have returned us back to Glenthorne in time for tea but the longer route came back down via Stone Arthur.

So we made our way to Fairfield taking in our last climb of the day.

The day was long and the distance slightly longer than planned but the joy of such wonderful weather in February and views of all the Lakeland mountains could not be bettered.

For our last day the two groups of map readers and walkers mixed up and I led a group up to Alcock Tarn.

The weather was fantastic and we sat for quite a long time eating our sandwiches and soaking up the February sunshine.

My group prepared themselves for the journey home.

Just taking in those last views - remembering them for always as a fantastic February break in the lakes!